Holy Terror (album)
Holy Terror is an album by rap/spoken word pioneers The Last Poets, released in 1995.[6] The album was financed and released by P-Vine Records in Japan and then released by Rykodisc Records in the United States and the United Kingdom later that same year, with a rerelease in 2004 by Innerhythmic. The U.S. and UK releases contain a bonus track titled "Black and Strong (Homesick)."
Holy Terror | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1995; Black Arc 1993 | |||
Genre | Funk; Spoken Word | |||
Length | 62:19 | |||
Label | Rykodisc[1] Black Arc Innerhythmic | |||
Producer | Bill Laswell[2] | |||
The Last Poets chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 7/10[5] |
Production
The lead figures in the Last Poets at this time were Umar Bin Hassan and Abiodun Oyewole.[7][1] The album was part of the Black Arc Series, launched by producer Bill Laswell in 1992.
Critical reception
AllMusic wrote: "Containing some of the Poets' most trenchant political and social lyrics, Holy Terror shows the Last Poets, Umar Bin Hassan and Abiodun Oyewole, still as fiery and sharp as ever."[3] CMJ New Music Monthly called the album "the bomb," writing that "it's as good as anything they've recorded in their 25-plus year career."[8]
Track listing
- "Invocation"
- "Homesick"
- "Black Rage"
- "Men-tality"
- "Pelourino"
- "Funk"
- "If We Only Knew"
- "Illusion of Self"
- "Talk Show"
- "Black and Strong (Homesick)"
- "Last Rites"
Personnel
- Umar Bin Hassan, Abiodun Oyewole, Grandmaster Melle Mel - voices
- Bootsy Collins - Guitars, Bass
- Bernie Worrell - Organ, Piano, Clavinet, Synthesizer
- Bill Laswell - Bass beats, Samples, Loops
- Aïyb Dieng - Congas, Chatan, Bells, Talking Drum, Doff, Tambourine, Gongs, Percussion
- George Clinton - guest vocals on "Black and Strong (Homesick)"
References
- "Last Poets". Trouser Press. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- Mills, David (December 12, 1993). "THE LAST POETS" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
- "Holy Terror - The Last Poets | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Volume 5: MUZE. p. 101.CS1 maint: location (link)
- Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 222–223.
- "The Last Poets | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- Thompson, Dave (October 31, 2001). Funk. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879306298 – via Google Books.
- "Best New Music". CMJ New Music Monthly: 14. May 1995.